Module 2 - Anemia General

Question 1

What are anemias?

Answer 1

is a reduction in the total number of erythrocytes in the circulating blood or a decrease in the quality or quantity of hemoglobin.

Question 2

What are polycythemias?

Answer 2

polycythemias are conditions in which erythrocyte numbers or volume is excessive.

Question 3

Anemias commonly result from ?

Answer 3

(1) impaired erythrocyte production, (2) blood loss (acute or chronic), (3) increased erythrocyte destruction, or (4) a combination of these three factors.

Question 4

How are anemias classified?

Answer 4

Anemias are classified by their causes (e.g., anemia of chronic disease) or by the changes that affect the size, shape, or substance of the erythrocyte.

Question 5

What are the most classification of anemia?

Answer 5

The most common classification of anemias is based on the changes that affect the cell’s size and hemoglobin content

Question 6

Terms that end with this refer to cell size

Answer 6

-cytic

Question 7

Terms that end with this refer to hemoglobin content

Answer 7

chromic

Question 8

Macrocytic-normochromic anemia:

Answer 8

large, abnormally shaped erythrocytes, normal hemoglobin concentrations

Question 9

Microcytic-hypochromic anemia

Answer 9

small, abnormally shaped erythrocytes and reduced hemoglobin concentration

Question 10

Normocytic-normochromic anemia:

Answer 10

normal size, normal hemoglobin concentration

Question 11

What is the main alteration of anemia and what does it results in?

Answer 11

The main alteration of anemia is a reduced oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood. This alteration results in tissue hypoxia.

Question 12

What is Initial compensation for cellular loss in the blood and what does it do?

Answer 12

Movement of interstitial fluid into the blood. This movement causes an increase in plasma volume and supports an adequate blood volume.

Question 13

What happens when interstitial fluid moves into the blood?

Answer 13

-the viscosity (thickness) of the blood decreases.
-The “thinner” blood flows faster and more turbulently than normal blood, causing a hyperdynamic circulatory state.

Question 14

What does hyperdynamic state create?

Answer 14

Cardiovascular changes.

Question 15

What cardiovascular changes happen with hyperdynamic states?

Answer 15

Increased stroke volume and HR

Question 16

Increased stroke volume and HR can lead to what

Answer 16

cardiac dilation and heart valve insufficiency

Question 17

Hypoxemia

Answer 17

reduced oxygen level in the blood.

Question 18

How does hypoxemia further contributes to cardiovascular dysfunction?

Answer 18

• causes dilation in arterioles, capillaries, and venules

Question 19

What does dilation in arterioles, capillaries, and venules cause

Answer 19

dilation increases blood flow through them

Question 20

What does increase in blood flow in arterioles, capillaries, and venules cause

Answer 20

-Increased peripheral blood flow and venous return further contributes to an increase in heart rate and stroke volume. –These symptoms occur in order to meet normal oxygen demand and prevent cardiopulmonary congestion.
-These compensatory mechanisms may lead to heart failure.

Question 21

What ar some fo the manifestations of anemia?

Answer 21

• The skin, mucous membranes, lips, nail beds, and conjunctivae become pale because of reduced hemoglobin concentration.
• They may also become yellowish (jaundiced) because of build-up of end products of red blood cell destruction (hemolysis) if that is the cause of the anemia.
• Tissue hypoxia of the skin results in impaired healing and loss of elasticity, as well as thinning and early greying of the hair.
• Numbness
• gait disturbances
  -extreme weakness
• spasticity
• reflex abnormalities

Question 22

What causes the skin, mucous membranes, lips, nail beds, and conjunctivae become pale

Answer 22

reduced hemoglobin concentration

Question 23

What causes yellow skin in anemia?

Answer 23

If the cause of anemia is hemolysis, it is because of because of build-up of end products of red blood cell destruction.

Question 24

What does tissue hypoxia of the skin results in?

Answer 24

impaired healing and loss of elasticity, as well as thinning and early greying of the hair.

Question 25

This process results in paresthesias (numbness), gait disturbances, extreme weakness, spasticity, and reflex abnormalities.

Answer 25

Myelin degeneration occurs, causing a loss of nerve fibres in the spinal cord.

Question 26

Decreased O2 in GI tract can cause what?

Answer 26

abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and anorexia.

Question 27

Lower grade fever occurs in some anemic individuals. What causes this?

Answer 27

This fever may result from the release of leukocyte pyrogens from ischemic tissues.

Question 28

When the anemia is severe or acute in onset (e.g., hemorrhage), the first compensatory mechanism is ?

Answer 28

peripheral blood vessel constriction.

Question 29

What does peripheral blood vessel constriction do?

Answer 29

The constriction diverts blood flow to essential vital organs.

Question 30

Normochromic Anemias

Answer 30

• are characterized by unusually large stem cells (megaloblasts) in the marrow.
• are characterized by unusually large stem cells (megaloblasts) in the marrow.